What have you learnt from watching TEDTalks?

I often find myself bringing up things I have learnt from TEDTalks in conversations with friends and colleagues. What are some of the things you have learnt from watching TEDTalks, that you did not know before?

Jun 30 2011:
The most important thing I have learned is that there are millions of people who want to make the earth a better place. I thought I was alone. There is never anything on the news about it, they just want to program us to behave the way they want us to. I found a new lease on life because of this realization, and TED is responsible for my enlightenment.

Jul 3 2011:
Three years ago I had a pessimistic biased view of people in general, but TED show me a new kind of people I never know before.
Watching TED talkers I realizing how many brilliant and generous minds are in the planet, and it makes me more positive about people. In TED I see humanity and it gives me a great feeling about the future.
TED talks make me a better persona.

Great question Martin. It becomes fully conscious to me when you asked.

Jul 3 2011:
:)
My initial thought was about learning facts and stuff, but through all the answers you have all given, I realize that I too have learnt more than mere facts. It's a new way of seeing things, a new outlook on making a difference, getting involved and expanding ones horizon. Thanks for all your great responses!

Jul 11 2011:
Yes, I believe this is the case for me too. TED showed me that is possible to live up my dreams. TED gave me and still gives me inspiration. Speaking about facts, at the end of 2009 I used this speech http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_st_john_s_8_secrets_of_success.html as a tool to evaluate my year and plan the year ahead. Thanks for this great topic!

Jun 30 2011:
I think I have watch most of the TED talks that I have found. I have even gone back into the archives. As I tried to distill what I have learned- one word popped out of my subconscious- HOPE. I have learned to really confidently hope again that the world will be OK. This spirit which loves goodness, wisdom, humanity, growth etc. etc. is still firmly alive and widely dispersed. TED taught me to have real hope again.

Jul 16 2011:
Another thing that I have learned is that debates can be civil and informative. I hope TED has more debates on a whole variety of issues to teach, inform and to lead the way to a better way of public discourse.

Jul 7 2011:
I have learned
1. The value of life
2. The amazing abilities of so many out there
3. To expand my consciousness and awareness
4. That there are so many very smart people out there and I love it
5. The infinite variety of ideas, innovation and knowledge we can all share

Jul 17 2011:
I was just writing a similar answer when I discovered this one.

I haven't learnt much on TED in terms of facts or some kind of knowledge. Actually, the more Talks I watch and translate, the more I feel small and that "I only know that I know nothing".

However, I have learnt something more important that facts. With every Talk I discover the human capacities and possibilities and it's a great source of inspiration. They DID it, they did something great. And when they did, why couldn't I?

I have learnt to overcome myself and try things I was only dreaming about. I overcame my fear of travelling and using foreign languages and I went for an exchange abroad. Thanks to TED. And now, studying abroad, I learn many new things every day, to respect other people and cultures, how language affects understanding the world, how little details can change your life.

Without watching and translating TEDTalks, I would have probably never tried anything new and I would have been stuck in my mind forever. TED has openned my mind and I'm very grateful for that.

Jul 6 2011:
My learning was complex. While watching hundreds of talks from the TED archives, I felt reassured that I have a clue about what is going on in the world, and at the same time I gained a new tool for social change. Earlier I tried to change my country by building an NGO from scratch, but two years ago I realized I could support the change from a different angle and started translating and reviewing TED talks (beyond posting TED talk links to my facebook wall). So, due to this experience I managed to learn new skills: video subtitle translation and review. After a while I got the TED associate status for my TED translations and started watching the TED conferences live online and I had the feeling that I need to take my blogging activity to the next level, and I started live TED conference blogging. Again, a new skill. And it is all voluntary, nobody asked me to do all this. TED for me is a multi layered learning experience: the talks, the interdisciplinary knowledge, the sharing, the changing, the translating, the reviewing, the live blogging...

Jul 5 2011:
I teach Public Speaking in English at a University in South Korea. I have my students listen to TED talks for evaluation homework. It's great because they can find topics in their own majors (which are varied) or in an area of personal interest plus it helps them to evaluate what was good or bad about the speech. They even develop quite a continuing interest in listening to TED after the class is over. We LOVE TED!

Jul 5 2011:
I taught EFL at a local private institution in Taipei. In an one on one lesson I have asked my student to transcribe part of TED talk to help him with his listening ability. After transcription he then can compare his works with the transcripts on the TED's website to see how well he can listen. And I can help him to see what error has he made and how can he correct it. TED's speech is authentic, real, intelligent and rich in it's contents and quality, which is in my opinion very good audio material for teaching advanced listening. LOVE TED, too! =)

Jul 4 2011:
You can learn fascinating things on topics you would have never guessed would interest you on Ted.com

I play a little game. find the video that looks the least interesting to you and watch it! You'll be surprised. I watched an hour long lecture on birds. I discovered the parallels (?) between the fashion industry and the music/movie industry (and their fight with P2P networks, copyrights)

I found my favorite author, lobbyist, spokesperson for common since in law. Phillip K Howard. His ideas have influenced how I think about most of my actions.

Jul 24 2011:
I am surprised by the response. One word can change the world if we latch onto it. 20 minute talks are lengthy. I have been so intensely moved by such short talks as "Try Something New for 30 Days", and "Building Parks in the Sky". Doesn't take a lengthy, structured lecture. Takes motivation, enthusiasm, follow-through. I agree wholly on this: One *must* build upon them. Good call.

Jul 5 2011:
TED talks have helped to clarify my life's purpose. Although I can't really quantify it, let's just say that in my first 37 years as a meat-eating, car driving consumer in a 1st world country, in my mind I've symbolically contributed to the painful demise of 10 blue whales. If, for the remainder of my life, I can make amends and save the symbolic equivalent of 11 blue whales, then I'll have made a net positive difference. I'm hoping that math reckons itself in the afterlife though. :-)

But specifically, Ray Anderson has taught me that business is the fastest and most effective way to save the world. If he could do a mid-course correction for a transnational corporation, then there's no excuse for other companies not to do the right thing and still make a profit. I’m very happy with the performance of my Interface stock. Mainly because of Ray, I'm leading a green team at my work place. Janine Beynus has opened my eyes to the truth of biomimicry and revealed that those who follow mother nature’s rules will succeed. From her teachiings, I feel that I intentionally came across an article for Project Kaisei. I am now a volunteer for Project Kaisei and am doing all I can to avoid using plastics and styrofoam in my life and spreading the word. Jill Bolte Taylor spelled out our interconnectedness to one another and everything around us. She taught me that it's my relationships to all beings that will underscore true happiness and that our bodies and minds are a gift to be used in that capacity.

Jul 4 2011:
First, a fun fact, I've knew about this page a few months ago, because a professor, in my school, show us a TED Talk of Simon Sinek, trying to inspiring us (I study Graphic Design). While I was seeing the Talk, I told to myself, "hey that's what I think!".
After that class, I enter to the page and I get fascinated with all the Talks, all the ideas from too many people, so different each one, without caring about their religious, politics, jobs, nationalities, but with one point in common: trying to make a better world.
I've started some proyects, trying to make a change in my country (Mexico), before TED I was inspired, but now, I'm the double inspired to make the change, and to don't give up so easily, that is a long road, but it would worth it.
What I've learnt? Inspiration, don't give up, and I'm not the only one making a change.

Jul 26 2011:
...that any shred of cynicism I've had about our world's future is entirely unwarranted. Now well into my '30s, I'm in that middle ground between youthful optimism and veteran scorn. I now feel myself being pulled back toward optimism as I see SO many talented, creative, and (most of all) hopeful people striving to make the world better. That so many look and think nothing like me gives me an even greater sense of pride.

Jul 18 2011:
I find myself spreading the word of TED almost every 3:d talk that comes up here, just because you do learn a thing or two or TED acts as a great news source that actually gives you real live news about interesting topics.

I've learned a lot about the human study, the brain and the body..
How society works and what's going on around the world.

Stories that facinates me like the one about "Suspended animation" or the outcome of putting children in charge of modern day problems.
TED, as Stephen below mentioned, acts as a gateway between people that are interested or knowlage.

And on TED, everyone is equal, this is the only forum that i know where gender, age or race does not matter.
I'm glad to be able to take in the information that is shared from within the community!

Jul 16 2011:
TED for me is more than learning 'something new' or 'skills for my daily life'. Instead I get inspired, shocked and surprised by so many wonderful (as well as miserable) things that happened in this world.

Life is wonderful and interesting just because there is always something NEW to explore. TED is like a booster to my curiosity to this world and things around me.

Jul 7 2011:
I grew up as a Jehovah's Witness, leaving the group (and home) at the age of 17. Part of the recovery process was accepting that the world was not getting worse, and was in fact getting better all the time. I now spend a fair amount of my time helping others to leave that high-control group, and TED talks are a big part of that. Steven Pinker, Hans Rosling and many others have given me the ammunition I need in order to convince many (including myself) that we are headed for a bright future indeed. Thanks, TED!

Jul 4 2011:
I've learned too much to recount here. I love this organization. I only discovered this site about a year ago, and was immediately hooked! Much of it is over my head, but I still enjoy trying to expand my mind....LOL

Jul 4 2011:
I remember my very first TED presentation I've seen at friends's facebook wall... I was absolutely new and exciting experience.. I found completely different world, and a whole society of people I always wanted to speak with...

Jun 30 2011:
The talks that are my personal favorites are David Gallow: Underwater astonishments, Jill Bolte Taylor's stroke of insight, Jonathan Drori: Why we are storing billions of seeds and Paul Stamets on 6 ways mushrooms can save the world.

Indirectly I have learned that any one of these videos can spark a TON of interest on a topic, and you really get to see all sides of thought in comments from hundreds of experts, hobbyists and the general public. I have been participating in the TED conversations lately and think this is an incredible opportunity for people to get real critisism from all walks of life. TED has change my life :D

Jul 27 2011:
i have learnt that there are 2 types of people in this world :
1. the ones who divide the world into 2 types.
2. the ones who don't
i mean we must treat everyone as the family member of this global family where EARTH is our home (:

Early on in this conversation I stated that I didn't know where to begin, and that's still true but scrolling through what I shared on Facebook yesterday might be a good place to start. so here it goes! (Thank you Joe Delsen for pushing me)

I'd like to say that the things I share about each Talk is just a bit of what I've learned about them and that i point to knowledge and not the feeling these Talks also gave me!

http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxCMU-Luis-von-Ahn-Duolingo-T;Most-popular Taught me that every time I send an Email through TED I contribute to deciphering books that computers can't read, I also learned that approximately 750 million people have done this, just by contributing 10 seconds every now and then. I also learned of a great free language-learning website that you are doing good by using, and it's free!

Jul 24 2011:
Love what comes to light with the correct prodding. Excellent discussion thread. I have learned and built upon learning. I will take my ideas and spread them at large to everyone I meet. My 3 year old son Watches TEDtalks with me. Not for long mind you, but he is getting to know. Love TED.com and it's goals. Ideas-Worth-Sharing. Wanna vote some of these people into congress!

Jul 24 2011:
That there is still way too much arrogance in the business and scientific community (companies "discover" the public wants more than one kind of spaghetti sauce, become an ePatient because the Dr.'s not going to be there for you, etc.).
Education is broken.
Enlightenment isn't for profit.

Jul 24 2011:
Easily the most engaging website on the.. web. I have learned to respect an idea without having delivered it myself. I have learned to latch onto hope again. The takeaway here? Bring TED.com everywhere. Classrooms, Home, Theaters, Businesses, Billboards, Everywhere. It pains me that I can't tell the world all at once "watch this. you'll be amazed". Glad for TED's support base, and for the many, many speakers sharing their hearts and minds.

Jul 24 2011:
I have learned moderation with invigoration. I have learned a new side of conversation; one sided but inclusive and engaging. Like telling a story, but with global impact. I have learned that the power of the spoken word is not lost on the textual generations. I have learned that I can make a difference with a view, a comment, a share, a "like", a message. I have learned, and am learning a refurbished love of shared knowledge. This does not have to be a decade without a "name". The Information Sharing Age. Age of Industry, Technology, Internet, Information/Networking, -Global Sharing and Connectivity through mass broadcast of forward-thinking dialogue .. age. I hope it's a cultural shift towards awareness and application of research, rather than.. more internet .com name dropping, or revamped social platforms. TED provides more than intellectually founded speakers giving passionate lectures on high-tier subject matter. It's a starting point for ideas, it's a breeding ground for community, it's a way of life!! I have learned not to bookmark your favorite sites; have them open when you open the browser. Thanks to the TED team, for everything, all the time.

Jul 26 2011:
Hi Adam, i like to use my own words (far too often...;-))...but you made it soooo clear in ur comment. I think TED is a sign that the sleeping "lion" is moving...that the feeling that "something is really going worng" is moving "up"...and I cannot say often enough THANK YOU to all of you for your courage and energy to help TED and thereby helping all people that feel "lost" or "alone" with their views etc. etc. (BIG thank you also to JIMMY).

Jul 18 2011:
TED provides a gateway to ideas, passion and inspiration. It is a well I drink from often and share widely. Listening and watching TED talks widens my heart and acts as a gateway to learning. I buy books of TED speakers from talks which inspire me to learn more and dig deeper.

TED offers a mechanism for learning which I couldn't have predicted being possible 20 years ago. The liquidity of the internet and democratizing of knowledge is profoundly moving, especially so with TED shedding light on the ineffable power of the human spirit and imagination.

Jul 15 2011:
In a globalized world, we need platforms like TED to help spread Ideas. The internet has done a wonderful job of this. Tackling big problems--problems that are bigger than one person requires a collective intelligence and that can only be achieved through a global platform of idea exchange.

Jul 12 2011:
For me, TED is a source of pure inspiration. It makes me appreciate learning, thinking, and doing. It tells me why I should try harder.. It makes me thrilled to know that there's SO MUCH for me to learn, SO MANY people to look up to.

Jul 9 2011:
I learnt what lies at the centre of my motivation (Tony Robbins; Dan Pink), I learnt how to improve my productiveness at work (Jason Fried); and learnt how to view life in a more positive and enjoyable manner (Neil Pasricha; Sam Richards; Nicholas Christakis).....the list goes on.

I'm still trying to apply and share those lessons yet could never have done it without the TED platform and community. A huge thank you to both the inspiring presenters and you the community!

Jul 9 2011:
I believe in collective intelligence, in connecting people, TED is about sharing great thought with others but also enable feedbacks and experience sharing using Conversation.
I believe in TED, I believe in spreading ideas I believe in postive thinking. Thank you for your work, thank you all for sharing your though.

Jul 10 2011:
Like Vincent, I have learned a lot about collaborative consumption, collective intelligence, sharing, giving, empathy and working together for joint goals. If I had to name one thing I have learned, it's that humans are not as egoistic and egocentric as I tended to believe before: countless volunteers and charity projects, illustrated in TED Talks, have shown me that we are not such a bad species after all.

Jul 9 2011:
I have learned that there is still hope for this world because there are still many genius and intelligent people who are good at heart and contributing ideas to make the world a better place.It is my hope that TED will continue to be a quality instrumental channel for positive change, a site where many world government body will use to implementing positive change for their country.I love this site !

Jul 8 2011:
I'm a Chinese undergraduate and i'm major in Business English.
So i think i can practice my Englihs.
Then,i can learn many valuable and brilliant ideas.
I can also expand my recognition to this world.
Many many things ...

Jul 7 2011:
The TEDtalks are great. There is so much information and innovation spoken it really opens the eyes to the world today. I must say though I think I have actually learned more form the discussions. With all the points of view and the links that people post it's very educating.

Jul 5 2011:
For me, TED turned into the highest wisdom that gives answers for questions I couldn't give answer to myself. It still opens up some untold truths that were always around but nobody paid attention to due to its' simplicity. TED inspires, teaches and unleashes my creative potential.

Jul 4 2011:
Stephen Pinker's articulation of how increasing civilization keeps reducing the likelihood of people killing each other.
I loved the way it resolved two viable intuitions: The obvious "well duh, that's why we call it civilized", vs. the easily believable "We live in an age of mechanized slaughter". That it seems to be continuing is also a great find.

Jul 4 2011:
TED is a rainbow of knowledge. Like having favorite colors, I have favorite subjects. But much of the delight comes from the other colors, helping me learn new, interesting and sometimes necessary things. Like traveling, TED has helped me expand my horizons.

Jul 4 2011:
I first saw Malcom Gladwells video on Pasta Sauce 3 years ago and it said to me "There is a whole world of people out there who think the same, analyze, dream, and realize a possibility in this world" that old world had me previously thinking.. it was 'us against them' almost a systematic separation of everyday people and people who can be highly influential.. it came right in the middle of a personal period of growth, reflection, contemplation, and effectively the process of ego disintegration. Identifying with TED and something called Integral Theory (Ken Wilber's philosophy based on the developmental studies of Clare Gaves in the mid 1900's) has reclaimed my faith in the academy, and has definitely been a huge factor as to the why I have chosen to stay in academia and as a student of the world. I now have hosted a TEDxLive event at my school and am well on my way to contributing the the bright and amazing futures that is ours to mould together.. and what a better place to meet than TED.com! Its a cosmic watercooler of intellectual and passionate stimulation.
Thank you everyone at TED who has helped enrich and enhance the lives of so many people who would have otherwise never been exposed to such valuable and intruiging ideas.Certainly my love for TED is just as worth spreading as the ideas themselves, as I owe a great deal of personal thanks.

Jul 4 2011:
Learning about the dynamics of shame and vulnerability, which Brene Brown spoke about, has been life-changing. These concepts are fundamental in our being, influence all that we do and, depending on how we respond to them, determine our happiness. This is very powerful! I strongly recommend a watch ^_^

Jul 2 2011:
I've learned with a little inspiration, Everyone is willing to step up and do someting about the wrongs and injustices in our lives. But it is the truely Inspired that see its just the obvious and right thing to do, and as such they themselves become movers and motivators, when sometimes they didn't even know they possed that ability themselves, We all have a mission, a reason for being, and that one thing that seperates us from everyone else. I find my self closer to the possitivity that we as the human race are capaple of when we are Inspired, and know we all play an importaint role in it.